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CRISPR-based biosensing is prospective for rapid and sensitive diagnosis of pediatric tuberculosis
Chunyang Lyu1, Hua Shi1, Yali Cui1
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Insights
Diagnosing pediatric tuberculosis (TB) is difficult. CRISPR-based biosensing platforms offer a sensitive, rapid, and cost-effective solution for early detection and treatment guidance in children.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Biotechnology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Pediatric tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis is challenging due to non-specific symptoms and low bacterial load in samples.
- Current diagnostic methods for childhood TB lack sensitivity, speed, and cost-effectiveness, hindering global control efforts.
- A critical need exists for advanced diagnostic tools to improve pediatric TB detection and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the potential of CRISPR-based biosensing platforms for diagnosing pediatric tuberculosis.
- To advocate for further research evaluating CRISPR platforms in pediatric specimens, particularly noninvasive samples.
- To explore the utility of CRISPR platforms for drug resistance identification and genotyping in pediatric TB.
Main Methods:
- Leveraging the specific and rapid Cas-protein-based catalytic activities of CRISPR systems.
- Utilizing CRISPR-based biosensing platforms for the detection of nucleic acid traces from Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- Focusing on the sensitivity, speed, and cost-effectiveness of CRISPR platforms in preliminary assessments.
Main Results:
- CRISPR platforms demonstrate superior sensitivity in detecting pathogen nucleic acid traces compared to conventional methods.
- These platforms offer significant advantages in terms of time and cost savings for diagnostic applications.
- Preliminary findings suggest high potential for CRISPR platforms in identifying drug resistance and performing genotyping.
Conclusions:
- CRISPR-based biosensing platforms show significant promise as a sensitive, rapid, and low-cost tool for pediatric TB diagnosis.
- Further clinical validation in pediatric populations, especially using noninvasive specimens, is warranted.
- Successful implementation of CRISPR platforms can facilitate early diagnosis, guide appropriate treatment, and support the WHO End-TB strategy.
Abstract:
Pediatric tuberculosis (TB) is an important part of global TB prevention and control. Diagnosis of childhood TB still remains challenging when using conventional tests, due to the non-specific clinical manifestations and paucibacillary nature of the specimens. Thus, a sensitive, rapid and low-cost diagnostic test is of great demand. Benefiting from specific and rapid Cas-protein-based catalytic activities, CRISPR-based biosensing platforms (CRISPR platforms) are showing superiority in detecting pathogen nucleic acid traces in clinical samples. Based on their excellent sensitivity, and time and cost saved in existing research, this study aimed to highlight the potential of CRISPR platforms as a tool for diagnosing pediatric TB, and advocate for studies to evaluate its performance in specimens collected from children, especially noninvasive specimens. These platforms are also promising in identifying drug resistance and genotyping. All of the above will help early diagnosis of pediatric TB, thus guide reasonable treatment, and be significant in achieving the World Health Organization End-TB strategy.
